Car dolly apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for supporting a vehicle by accommodating large loads and a variety of floor gradients while preventing shifting and slippage during use. The apparatus comprises a main frame assembly, a height adjustment mechanism disposed in the main frame assembly, and a plurality of casters mounted on the main frame assembly to provide mobility. The apparatus may also comprise a clamping feature to secure a pinch weld section of a vehicle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to provisional U.S. Patent Applicationentitled, CAR DOLLY APPARATUS AND METHOD filed Feb. 22, 2005, having aSer. No. 60/655,910, now pending, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method forservicing vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates toa car dolly for servicing vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Within the automobile industry, it is sometimes necessary to servicevehicles for repair and/or maintenance. Such repair and/or maintenancemay require a vehicle to be positioned or stationed at a particularlocation. Additionally, it may be necessary to maneuver the vehicle tovarious locations and/or positions such as within a repair bay of avehicle repair facility.

One method of maneuvering the vehicle may employ the use of a kind ofcar dolly system which could, for example, be utilized for manipulatinga vehicle into various locations and/or positions (for example, in orderfor a worker to access the vehicle from a preferred position).

Existing car dollies tend to incorporate rigid members which aregenerally tied together and connected across and to the undercarriage ofa vehicle. Such connection may typically include bolting the rigidmembers to the undercarriage at various connection points. In someembodiments, a caster may also be provided at each comer of the vehicleand connected to the aforementioned rigid members at predeterminedconnection points. Thus, the aforementioned car dolly would tend tosupport the weight of the vehicle. The casters would provide a degree ofmobility to the aforementioned car dolly such that when the vehicle wassupported on the rigid members of the aforementioned car dolly, thevehicle would be maneuverable by urging the vehicle on top of theaforementioned car dolly as it is rolled along the casters.

A degree of maneuverability may be necessary in order to manipulate avehicle for several reasons. In one instance, a vehicle may not be ableto be started and consequently driven to a preferred location. Inanother example, a vehicle may lack one or more wheels and, hence, couldnot otherwise be maneuvered without assistance from a car dolly such asthe one described above. Furthermore, it may be impractical to start avehicle in a repair/maintenance bay because of safety reasons. Forinstance, potential fumes from car exhaust, ignition sparks, additionalnoise, for examples, may be undesirable within a repair/maintenance bayfacility. Thus, use of a car dolly system can be important when it wouldotherwise be impractical to drive or tow a vehicle into a preferredposition and/or location, for example, within a car maintenance orrepair bay facility.

However, due to implementation of heavier vehicles, the design of theaforementioned car dolly setup may tend to shift or slip on top of theaforementioned car dolly while urging the vehicle into a preferredposition and/or location. Because the rigid members may be tied directlyto the undercarriage of the vehicle, it may be possible for damage tooccur to the vehicle should a shift or slip occur. A similar result mayoccur if the aforementioned car dolly setup suddenly becomes immobiledue to an uneven floor surface. In this instance, the momentum of thevehicle could also cause a shift or slip which may result in damage tothe vehicle. The extent of damage may be varied, for instance, should arigid member be coupled to a crumple zone of the car body and shift orslip occur. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an apparatus andmethod that can accommodate the weight of a variety of vehicles. It isalso desirable to provide an apparatus and method for servicing vehiclesin an environment of potential varied flooring conditions. It is alsodesirable to provide an apparatus and method that prevents shiftingand/or slipping, at least to some extent, while maneuvering a vehicleinto a desired location and/or position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the presentinvention, wherein in one aspect an apparatus is provided that in someembodiments comprises a main frame assembly, a height adjustmentmechanism wherein a portion of the height adjustment mechanism isdisposed in the main frame assembly, and a plurality of casters mountedon the main frame assembly for providing mobility to the apparatus.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method isprovided that in some embodiments provides a main frame assembly havinga plurality of casters mounted thereto and a height adjustment mechanismhaving at least a portion of the height adjustment mechanism disposed inthe main frame assembly. The method may also include determining apreferred height of a vehicle, adjusting the vehicle to a preferredheight, rolling the main frame assembly under a body of the vehicle andadjusting the height adjustment mechanism to the preferred height tosupport the body of the vehicle.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a systemis provided that in some embodiments a means for adjusting a height of avehicle, a means for housing the adjusting means wherein a portion ofthe adjusting means is disposed in the housing means, and a means forrolling mounted on the housing means.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of theinvention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may bebetter understood, and in order that the present contribution to the artmay be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodimentsof the invention that will be described below and which will form thesubject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments inaddition to those described and of being practiced and carried out invarious ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology andterminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for thepurpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conceptionupon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a car dolly apparatusaccording to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a component of the car dolly apparatusillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the component illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a height adjustment mechanismaccording to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the height adjustment mechanism illustrated inFIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an alternative heightadjustment mechanism design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides anapparatus and method for servicing vehicles. A car dolly apparatus isprovided to service vehicles by supporting the vehicle at various pointsunderneath the body of the vehicle. The car dolly apparatus inaccordance with the present invention is preferably designed toaccommodate the weight of a variety of vehicles. The car dolly apparatusin accordance with the present invention is also preferably capable ofmaneuvering vehicles over a variety of even or uneven floor surfaces.The car dolly apparatus and method in accordance with the presentinvention preferably prevents shifting and slipping, at least to someextent, during use. Preferred embodiments of the invention will now bedescribed with reference to the drawing figures, in which like referencenumerals refer to like parts throughout.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, there is shown a car dolly apparatus 10for servicing vehicles. The car dolly apparatus 10 is preferablydesigned to be utilized in applications for servicing vehicles such asautomobiles and/or trucks. The car dolly apparatus 10 can be configuredto join the underbody of the vehicle. Alternatively, the car dollyapparatus 10 can also accommodate the weight of the vehicle such as byallowing the body of the vehicle to rest upon a mounting surface 12 ofthe car dolly apparatus 10. Each car dolly apparatus 10 is design tooperate independently or may be utilized with an additional car dollyapparatus 10 or sets of car dolly apparatus 10.

In one embodiment, the car dolly apparatus 10 comprises a main frameassembly 14 which accommodates a height adjustment mechanism 16 througha tubular mounting structure 18 of the main frame assembly 14. Thetubular mounting structure 18 comprises a plurality of height adjustmentholes 19. A plurality of tubular extensions 20, 22, 24 extend from thetubular mounting structure 18 and may be suitably secured thereto, forexample, by welding means. A plurality of mounting plates 26, 28, 30maybe suitably secured to a respective tubular extension 20, 22, 24, forexample, also by welding means. Thus, the assembly of the tubularmounting structure 18, the plurality of tubular extensions 20, 22, 24,and the plurality of mounting plates 26, 28, 30 form a rigid assembly ofthe main frame assembly 14. In a preferred embodiment, the materials ofthe main frame assembly 14 comprise steel components.

In order to provide mobility to the car dolly apparatus 10, a pluralityof casters 32, 34, 36 are provided and can be respectively attached tothe mounting plates 26, 28, 30 of the main frame assembly 14. In apreferred embodiment, an odd number of casters 32, 34, 36 attached torespective mounting plates 26, 28, 30 are utilized in order toaccommodate a variety of floor gradients. This feature is designed toprovide continuous support at a point where the car dolly apparatus 10is implemented to the body of the vehicle. Thus, if one or more wheelsbecomes unsupported by an uneven floor surface, for example, at leastone wheel will tend to continuously support the car dolly apparatus 10.An attachment means 38, such as nut and bolt assembly, may be utilizedto secure the plurality of casters 32, 34, 36 to respective mountingplates 26, 28, 30. Thus, the bolts may be inserted through a pluralityof holes 40 provided on the mounting plates 26, 28, 30 throughcorresponding holes on the casters 32, 34, 36 and secured via the nutsin order to form a rigid assembly.

In a preferred embodiment, each caster is designed to support at least a400 lb load. Thus, for three casters, the car dolly apparatus 10 ispreferably designed to support a 1200 lb load capacity. The castermaterial may employ a hard plastic such as polyolefin or alternatively,for example, utilize a steel wheel design.

Referring to FIG. 4, a height adjustment mechanism 16 is shown having aplurality of height adjustment insertion holes 42 disposed therein. Avehicle support mounting plate 44 is attached to the height adjustmentmechanism 16 at one end thereof. In one embodiment, the vehicle supportmounting plate 44 may be attached via welding means. The vehicle supportmounting plate 44 is utilized to provide support and/or stability to avehicle undercarriage.

A first vehicle mounting means 46 may be rigidly attached to the vehiclesupport mounting plate 44 such as by welding means, for example. Thefirst vehicle mounting means 46 can be utilized to support theundercarriage of a vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, a cushionmaterial 50, 52 is attached to a top surface and an inner surface of thefirst vehicle mounting means 46 to protect a surface of the supportedvehicle body from damage, such as indentations or scratches. The cushionmaterial may consist of any suitable material for providing protectionincluding, for instance, a rubber material (such as a neopreme pad) or,alternatively, a plastic material.

The car dolly apparatus 10 may further incorporate a pinch weld clamp tofacilitate preventing shifting or slipping during usage, such asmanipulating a position of a vehicle. The first vehicle mounting means46 may comprise a plurality of orifices 54, 56 for accommodating a meansto facilitate translational movement (such as a nut and bolt assembly58).

In a preferred embodiment, the car dolly apparatus 10 also incorporatesa height adjustment design to accommodate an adjustment between ten andfourteen inches. In order to provide for height adjustment, the heightadjustment mechanism 16 is disposed within the tubular mountingstructure 18 of the main frame assembly 14. The preferred heightadjustment insertion hole 42 of the height adjustment mechanism 16 maybe aligned with a height adjustment hole 19 of the tubular mountingstructure 18. A securing device, such as a hitch pin 70, may be insertedthrough the aligned insertion hold 42 and the adjustment hole 19 inorder to retain a preferred height adjustment.

In an alternative embodiment, another vehicle support mounting platedesign may be utilized such as a pivoting vehicle support mounting plate72. The pivoting vehicle support mounting plate 72 is not rigidlyattached to the height adjustment mechanism 16 (as with the vehiclesupport mounting plate 44). Instead, the pivoting vehicle supportmounting plate 72 incorporates a flanged area 74 which comprises aninsertion hole 76 to accommodate a securing device, such as a hitch pin70. When the insertion hole 76 of the pivoting vehicle support mountingplate 72 is aligned with a height adjustment insertion hole 42 of theheight adjustment mechanism 16, the hitch pin 70 may be insertedtherethrough to secure the assembly. Thus, the pivoting vehicle supportmounting plate 72 may be allowed to pivot about an axis of the heightadjustment mechanism 16 to accommodate various angles of a undercarriagedesign of a vehicle to order to provide additionally stability and/orsupport.

A pinch weld clamp feature may also be utilized in combination with thepivoting vehicle support mounting plate 72. As with the vehicle supportmounting plate 44, the first vehicle mounting means 46 may be rigidlyconnected to the pivoting vehicle support mounting plate 72. Again, thefirst vehicle mounting means 46 may comprise a plurality of orifices 54,56 for accommodating a means to facilitate translational movement (suchas a nut and bolt assembly 58). Additionally, the second vehiclemounting means 60 may rest upon the pivoting vehicle support mountingplate 72. Thus, in cooperation with the second vehicle mounting means 60having a plurality of orifices 62, 64 generally aligned with respectiveorifices 54, 56 of the first vehicle mounting means 46, the means tofacilitate translational movement (such as a nut and bolt assembly 58)may be inserted therethrough and retained therein.

Again, the first vehicle mounting means 46 is rigidly connected to thepivoting vehicle support mounting plate 72. The second vehicle mountingmeans 60 merely rests upon the pivoting vehicle support mounting plate72. Thus, as the nut of the nut and bolt assembly 58 is turned,translational movement may occur to adjust the second vehicle mountingmeans 60 with respect to the first vehicle mounting means 46accordingly. In operation, the vehicle undercarriage, such as a pinchweld section of a vehicle, may be clamped and retained between the firstvehicle mounting means 46 and the second vehicle mounting means 60. Thesecond vehicle mounting means 60 may also contain a cushion material 66,68 attached to a top surface and an inner surface thereof in order toprotect a surface of the supported vehicle body from damage, such asindentations or scratches.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from thedetailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claimsto cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, sincenumerous modifications and variations will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to theexact construction and operation illustrated and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents maybe resortedto, falling within the scope of the invention.

1-37. (canceled)
 38. An apparatus for supporting a vehicle comprising: amain frame assembly having a tubular mounting structure, a plurality oftubular extensions rigidly attached to and extending from the tubularmounting structure, and a plurality of caster mounting plates rigidlycoupled to the plurality of tubular extensions; a height adjustmentmechanism having a portion disposed within the tubular mountingstructure and a first vehicle mounting support coupled thereto; and aplurality of casters mounted on the plurality of caster mounting plates.39. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising: a vehicle supportmounting plate support rigidly coupled between the height adjustmentmechanism and the first vehicle mounting support, wherein a secondvehicle mounting support is coupled to the vehicle support mountingplate.
 40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the first vehicle mountingsupport further comprises a plurality of orifices for accommodating adevice to facilitate translational movement.
 41. The apparatus of claim40, wherein the second vehicle mounting support is adjustably coupled tothe vehicle support mounting plate and the first vehicle mountingsupport.
 42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the second vehiclemounting support further comprises a plurality of orifices correspondingto a respective plurality of orifices of the first vehicle mountingsupport for accommodating the device to facilitate translationalmovement.
 43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein a portion of the deviceto facilitate translational movement is inserted through the pluralityof orifices of the first vehicle mounting support and through acorresponding plurality of orifices of the second vehicle mountingsupport, such that the distance between the first vehicle mountingsupport and the second vehicle mounting support is adjustable.
 44. Theapparatus of claim 43, wherein the device to facilitate translationalmovement comprises a nut and bolt assembly.
 45. The apparatus of claim38, wherein the first vehicle mounting support further comprises a topsurface, wherein a cushion material is attached to the top surface toprotect the supported surface of the vehicle.
 46. The apparatus of claim45, wherein the first vehicle mounting support further comprises aninner surface, wherein the cushion material is attached to the innersurface to protect the supported surface of the vehicle.
 47. Theapparatus of claim 39, wherein the second vehicle mounting supportfurther comprises a top surface and an inner surface, wherein a cushionmaterial is attached to the top surface and the inner surface to protectthe supported surface of the vehicle.
 48. The apparatus of claim 47,wherein the cushion material is a neoprene pad.
 49. The apparatus ofclaim 38, further comprising: a plurality of height adjustment insertionholes disposed in the tubular mounting structure; a correspondingplurality of height adjustment insertion holes disposed in the heightadjustment mechanism; and an insertion pin capable of inserting throughone of the plurality of height adjustment insertion holes of the tubularmounting structure and one of the corresponding plurality of heightadjustment insertion holes of the height adjustment mechanism.
 50. Theapparatus of claim 38, wherein a pivoting vehicle support mounting plateis pivotably coupled between the height adjustment mechanism and thefirst vehicle mounting support, wherein a second vehicle mountingsupport is coupled to the pivoting vehicle support mounting plate. 51.The apparatus of claim 50, further comprising: an insertion holedisposed on the pivoting vehicle support mounting plate; and aninsertion pin capable of inserting through the insertion hole of thepivoting vehicle support mounting plate and a hole in the heightadjustment mechanism, such that the pivoting vehicle support mountingplate is capable of pivoting about an axis of the height adjustmentmechanism.
 52. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the first vehiclemounting support further comprises a plurality of orifices foraccommodating a device to facilitate translational movement.
 53. Theapparatus of claim 52, wherein the second vehicle mounting support isadjustably coupled to the vehicle support mounting plate and the firstvehicle mounting support.
 54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein thesecond vehicle mounting support further comprises a plurality oforifices corresponding to a respective plurality of orifices of thefirst vehicle mounting support for accommodating the device tofacilitate translational movement.
 55. The apparatus of claim 54,wherein a portion of the device to facilitate translational movement isinserted through the plurality of orifices of the first vehicle mountingsupport and through a corresponding plurality of orifices of the secondvehicle mounting support, such that the distance between the firstvehicle mounting support and the second vehicle mounting support isadjustable.
 56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the device tofacilitate translational movement comprises a nut and bolt assembly. 57.The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the first vehicle mounting supportfurther comprises a top surface, wherein a cushion material is attachedto the top surface to protect the supported surface of the vehicle. 58.The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the second vehicle mounting supportfurther comprises a top surface and an inner surface, wherein thecushion material is attached to the top surface and the inner surface toprotect the supported surface of the vehicle.
 59. The apparatus of claim38, wherein the casters are made from a hard plastic or steel.
 60. Theapparatus of claim 38, wherein the main frame assembly having threetubular extensions.
 61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the threetubular extensions are mounted equidistance from each other on thetubular mounting structure.
 62. A system for supporting a vehiclecomprising: means for adjusting a height of the support system having afirst means for mounting a vehicle, wherein the mounting means iscoupled to the adjusting means; a frame means for supporting theadjusting means having a plurality of tubular extensions rigidlyattached to and extending from the frame means and a plurality ofrolling mounting means rigidly attached to the tubular extensions,wherein a portion of the adjusting means is disposed in the frame means;and means for rolling mounted on the rolling mounting means.
 63. Thesystem of claim 62, further comprising: means for supporting themounting means, wherein the support means is rigidly coupled between theheight adjusting means and the mounting means
 64. The system of claim62, further comprising a clamping means coupled to the support means.65. The system of claim 64, wherein the clamping means comprises: thefirst mounting means rigidly attached to the supporting means, the firstmounting means having a plurality of orifices for accommodating a deviceto facilitate translational movement; and a second mounting meanscoupled to the supporting means and the first mounting means, the secondmounting means having a plurality of orifices corresponding to arespective plurality of orifices of the first mounting means foraccommodating the device to facilitate translational movement.
 66. Thesystem of claim 65, wherein a portion of the device to facilitatetranslational movement is inserted through the plurality of orifices ofthe first mounting means and through a corresponding plurality oforifices of the second mounting means, such that the distance betweenthe first mounting means and the second mounting means is adjustable.67. The system of claim 66, wherein the device to facilitatetranslational movement means comprises a nut and bolt assembly.
 68. Thesystem of claim 65, wherein the first mounting means further comprises atop surface and an inner surface, wherein a cushion material is attachedto the top surface and the inner surface to protect the supportedsurface of the vehicle.
 69. The system of claim 68, wherein the secondmounting means further comprises a top surface and an inner surface,wherein a cushion material is attached to the top surface and the innersurface to protect the supported surface of the vehicle.
 70. The systemof claim 62, wherein a pivotable supporting means is pivotably coupledto the height adjusting means and the support means.
 71. A method ofsupporting a vehicle comprising: providing a main frame assembly havinga tubular mounting structure, a plurality of tubular extensions rigidlyattached to and extending from the tubular mounting structure, aplurality of caster mounting plates rigidly attached to the plurality oftubular extensions, a plurality of casters mounted thereto, wherein aheight adjustment mechanism having at least a portion of the heightadjustment mechanism disposed in the main frame assembly and a firstvehicle mounting support coupled thereto; adjusting a vehicle to apreferred height; adjusting the height adjustment mechanism to thepreferred height to support the body of the vehicle; rolling the mainframe assembly under a body of the vehicle; and lowering the vehicleonto the main frame assembly.
 72. The method of claim 71, furthercomprising: adjusting a clamping mechanism of the height adjustmentmechanism; inserting a portion of the body of the vehicle within theclamping mechanism; and adjusting the clamping mechanism to secure theinserted body portion.
 73. An apparatus for supporting a vehiclecomprising: a main frame assembly having a tubular mounting structure,three tubular extensions rigidly attached to and extending from thetubular mounting structure, and three caster mounting plates rigidlyattached to each of the tubular extensions; a height adjustmentmechanism having a portion disposed within the tubular mountingstructure, a vehicle support mounting plate pivotably coupled to theheight adjustment mechanism, a first vehicle support rigidly coupled tothe vehicle support mounting plate, and a second vehicle supportadjustably coupled to the vehicle support mounting plate and next to thefirst vehicle support, such that the distance between the first vehiclesupport and the second vehicle support is adjustable; and three castersmounted on each of the three caster mounting plates of the main frameassembly.